Former Illini Hudson cut loose from Orioles

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BALTIMORE — Former Illinois baseball All-American Kyle Hudson was released Thursday by the Baltimore Orioles.

Hudson, who made his major league debut last season, had remained on the Orioles' 40-man roster. However, the outfielder was designated for assignment Jan. 10 to make room on the roster following the signing of left-handed pitcher Wei-Yin Chen of Taiwan.

An MLB rule prevented the Orioles from returning Hudson, who had been with the organization for four seasons, to the minor leagues.

The former Illini fell into the category of a draft-excluded player because he was promoted to the major leagues after Aug. 15 and remained on the 40-man roster through the Rule 5 draft in December.

Draft-excluded players are prevented from being returned to the minors by their organizations between five days after the end of the World Series and 25 days before the opening of the following season.

After deciding that Chen would take Hudson's place on the 40-man roster, the Orioles' options were either to trade or release him. Baltimore released the 2008 third-team All-American on Thursday, making him a free agent.

The Rule 5 draft was created to prevent MLB teams from stockpiling minor league players. Players are eligible for this draft when they are not on a 40-man roster and either were signed at age 19 or older and have been in the organization for four years or were signed at age 18 or younger and have been in the organization for five years.

Hudson, 25, was drafted by Baltimore in the fourth round in 2008. He was promoted to the majors on Sept. 1 and appeared in 14 games with the Orioles, hitting .143 in 28 at-bats.

The Mattoon native now will attempt to sign with another organization.

"Basically, it's just a waiting game to see what's going to happen," Hudson told The Mattoon Journal-Gazette and Charleston Times-Courier. "To be honest, I feel it doesn't really matter where I go.

"I'd like to go somewhere where they want me there and that they feel I can help them at the big league level. That's still my goal to be at the major league level and help a team win games."